NSCDC Deploys 2,500 For Rivers NECO Exams

As act of measures to ensure fraud-free examinations in Rivers State, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed about 2, 5000 of its men to monitor the on-going National Examinations Council (NECO).

Spokesman of NSCDC in the state, John Olubuah made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen on Monday in Port Harcourt.

Olubuah said the action was geared towards assisting the state government’s efforts at ridding exams malpractices and also ensure the safety of candidates sitting for the exams, which commenced  yesterday.

While urging students sitting for the exams to cooperate with NSCDC officials, Olubuah also said they would be screened before entering the examination halls.

‘I will urge students in their own interest to avoid being embarrassed, they should avoid coming to the examination halls with any metal object or mercenaries of anything that would implicate them.

“If we detect any metal, such candidate would be charged for bearing arms”.

The civil defence image maker also implored candidates to avoid coming to the exam centres with their GSM phones, saying that defaulters would be arrested.

He disclosed that the agency had been liaising with both the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)  the and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to actualise its  mandate of monitoring not only examinations cheats and ensure defaulters are brought to book, but also help check safety of oil pipelines across the nation.

He said the NSCDC had also been directed to monitor all unity schools’ examinations,  aside the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination, a reason which he explained informed the agency’s establishment of a high powered monitoring team to arrest civil defence staff and examination supervisors who compromise their duties.

Commenting on the outcome of the last UTME, Olubuah stated that the agency, through its state commandant, Danjuma Elisha had sent its report to the state government for study.

Part of the report, he hinted was geared at proffering solution to the problems of examination malpractice besetting the state. He added that some private schools had been recommended for penalties.

“Owners of such schools stand the risk of losing their centres if there are records of irregularities above 50 per cent”, he said.